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A Jewish family of nine told Israel National News that as they walked home from Friday evening prayers last week they were set upon by a gang of Arab youth, and that nearby Israeli police officers did nothing to prevent the attack.

The family was returning to its home near the Flowers Gate in Jerusalem's Old City when five Arab youth with covered faces began hurling concrete blocks at them.

The family managed to take cover under the roof of a nearby store and work their way home without injury. But the children were visibly traumatized by the incident.

What's worse is that several Israeli Border Police officers were standing nearby and witnessed at least part of the attack, but were unable to intervene.

The mother told Israel National News that she later confronted the officers and was told that they could not stop the attackers for fear of getting in trouble with their superiors.

"Soldiers and Border Police can act only if there's an immediate threat to life," she said, recalling the officers' explanation. "What are they waiting for, for somebody to be killed?"

Unfortunately, under Israel's current rules of engagement, that is precisely what they are waiting for. Israel has been so battered by a hateful and condescending international community that it often fears taking even basic measures to defend its citizens until a tragedy big enough to unquestionably justify such measures occurs.

The stoning attack on this family is such a routine kind of attack against the Jews in this area that it was not reported in the mainstream Israeli press.

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